Augusta, GA
Augusta National Women’s Amateur golfer plays for a bigger purpose
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The bags at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur have their own personality.
But one stands out when it’s made to blend in.
Rachel Heck is playing in her fourth tournament. However, it’s her first spotting the colors she’s worked toward for the last four years.
“I did ROTC all throughout college, started ROTC my freshman year, and then commissioned as a second lieutenant last June,” said Heck. “I’ve been in the reserves since then.”
She may be one of eight golfers from Stanford playing, but her team outside of her 9 to 5 is the stars and stripes.
“Golf is so individual, and I really wanted something that was a total opposite,” said Heck. “I wanted to be a small part of something so much bigger.”
It’s the first event she’s been able to play as an officer.
“I had a lot of military folks, you know, yelling, ‘go Air Force, go Army, go whatever,’” said Heck. “There was actually a girl who’s an ROTC cadet at Alabama, I met her today, she drove to watch me play, and it’s just so cool to have that support.”
On the course or off it, it’ll always be a game of perspective.
“It’s just, you know, when things are tough out there, when I get frustrated, I remember what I’m a part of,” said Heck.
This is Heck’s final Augusta National Women’s Amateur Tournament.
It’s hard not to think of them as anything but competitive golfers, but when you hear some of their stories, it makes you appreciate everything it took for them to get to this moment.
Winning the tournament is at the top of the list for everyone in this field, but at the end of the day, this has got to be one of the biggest highlights of each of their young careers.
It’s only going to get better from here.
The third and final round of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur will take place Saturday at Augusta National Golf Club.
Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – Golden Harvest Food Bank is partnering with local legal organizations for the 15th Annual Georgia Food Frenzy.
The fundraising competition is held in partnership with Feeding Georgia, the Office of the Georgia Attorney General, the State Bar of Georgia, and the Young Lawyers Division of the State Bar of Georgia.
The two-week competition runs from April 20th through May 1st, and every dollar raised stays local, supporting Golden Harvest’s work across the state of Georgia.
Groups can register at www.galegalfoodfrenzy.org/sign-up, and registration will remain open throughout the competition.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Georgia gubernatorial candidate Geoff Duncan campaigned in Augusta ahead of Election Day, making stops at two churches and meeting with local faith leaders.
The former lieutenant governor visited Good Hope Baptist Church on Cedar Street, where he spoke with the Greater Augusta Interfaith Coalition’s “Music to the Polls” group.
Duncan told us that, if elected governor, he wants to expand Medicaid, pass what he called “common-sense gun legislation,” and create more economic opportunities statewide. He also pointed to affordability concerns impacting families and businesses.
“I want to take $1.7 billion of our state’s fund and wrap it around the axle of poverty,” Duncan said, adding that he wants to lower child care costs and improve temporary assistance programs.
Duncan also stopped at Miles Memorial Church on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
NJ apartment dwellers, renters have these options for help with rent
State and local officials say several programs are designed to help low and moderate-income households stay housed in the face of financial distress.
As rent prices continue to strain budgets, a new study is highlighting where Georgians can save the most by splitting housing costs.
According to a report from SmartAsset, some cities in Georgia offer major savings for renters who choose to live with a roommate.
Here’s what to know.
Where can you save the most in Georgia?
The study ranks Augusta as the top city in Georgia for roommate savings, and No. 6 in the country.
Renters there can save about 45% on monthly rent, or roughly $450 per month, by sharing an apartment.
Here’s how the costs compare in Augusta:
- One-bedroom rent: $1,000
- Two-bedroom rent: $1,100
- Estimated monthly savings with a roommate: $450
Why are roommate savings so high?
With rent prices rising, splitting costs has become one of the easiest ways to cut monthly expenses.
The study shows that sharing rent can significantly reduce housing costs, especially in cities where prices have climbed in recent years.
How does Georgia compare to the rest of the country?
Here’s the top 10 cities in the US for saving with a roomate:
- Cleveland, OH
- Baton Rouge, LA
- Jersey City, NJ
- Memphis, TN
- Boise, ID
- Augusta, GA
- New Haven, CT
- Chattanooga, TN
- Virginia Beach, VA
- Shreveport, LA
Methodology
The study analyzed 100 U.S. cities using rental data from March 2025 to March 2026 from Zumper, comparing one-bedroom rents to half the cost of two-bedroom apartments to estimate savings from sharing with a roommate.
For more information, visit smartasset.com/data-studies/roommate-savings-2026.
Vanessa Johns is the Trending Topics Reporter for the Deep South Connect Team Georgia. Email her at Vcountryman@gannett.com.
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